Incentivized exercise equipment

ABSTRACT

An incentivized exercise machine comprising an exercise machine including a monitor to monitor the pace of a user of the exercise machine. The monitor is configured to communicate with a processor for controlling the rate of text scrolled onto a visual screen for reading by a user. The text may be scrolled at a rate based on the user&#39;s exercise pace to incentivize the user to keep pace. The processor may also, or alternatively, be configured to receive electronically stored print materials to be presented on the screen and scrolling the print material&#39;s words at a rate and in a font readable by the user of the exercise machine.

I. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/109,020 filed on Oct. 28, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference in its entirety.

II. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to exercise equipment having features to incentivize users to exercise. More particularly, the present invention relates to exercise equipment providing electronic media adapted for readability by users of the equipment and/or processors adapted to track, pace, and incentivize a user's use of the exercise equipment through electronic media offerings and preferably, the provision of milestones.

III. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As will be appreciated, the transition of today's economy into the information age has resulted in countless individuals spending their days in an office, classroom, or behind a desk in a mostly sedentary state as they read, write, and communicate in today's technological world. For all its great benefits, it is undeniable that society's infrastructure and conveniences has made physical exertion and exercise almost completely absent from the lives of many people. While most people understand that exercise and fitness play a crucial role in enjoying a long and healthy life, many people fail to find the time or incentive to exercise.

Many people cite different reasons for failing to pursue a regime of regular exercise—time, expense, or intervening priorities of work or family. Some persons start exercise regimens with the best of intentions only to let them lapse through periods of inactivity arising from increased time commitments needed to study (e.g., final exams), familial responsibilities (e.g., new baby), longer work days or a busy season (e.g., end of the fiscal year or tax season) and/or in some cases simple boredom arising from the monotony of running on a treadmill or peddling a stationary bike.

Some prior artisans have attempted to deal with the issue of boredom and/or perceived time constraints by combining exercise equipment with other activities. By allowing a user of exercise equipment to watch T.V. or talk on the phone, it is theorized that users will suffer less boredom and continue to exercise. Additionally, conceding that many people would prioritize a favorite T.V. program over exercise, providing the ability for both to fill the same time period is hoped to increase the odds of that person exercising. While many gyms provide television sets operatively disposed for viewing by persons exercising on treadmill, exercise bikes, stair steppers and the like, the user does not necessarily get to choose the program or change the program. Similarly, while users could bring their own cell phones to the gym or use one in their house, many activities are not conducive to one hand being used to hold a phone to the user's ear.

In an effort to address these concerns, some prior artisans have developed exercise equipment having its own television screen, radio, or phone jack—all with individual headsets—that allow a user the freedom to watch, listen or talk in a personal and hands free environment. Unfortunately, there are still many persons that choose not to exercise due to exercise, and exercise equipment, being currently uncombinable with their daily activities.

One particular subset of people with a sedentary lifestyle that continues to grow each year is the office worker. As the length of schooling and the use of electronic technology in many professions have increased, the amounts of time that people spend reading and working on computers has also proportionally increased. Further, as the widespread use of the Internet and other instant electronic media has increased, people desiring constant or updated information has likewise steadily increased. Many people today start their morning by reading the latest news on a website or reading new emails on a handheld device. These people also often conclude a long day behind their computers at work with additional personal time or activities being performed on the computer.

For these people, a constant and not insignificant hindrance to an exercise routine is the inability to read or use their electronic media while exercising. As will be appreciated, the difficulty in trying to read a book, newspaper, computer screen, or handheld device while running on a treadmill, climbing a stair stepper, or peddling an exercise bike is substantial. For many of these people, the inability to conduct their work and reading activities at the same time they exercise makes, at least in their minds, the finding of time to exercise essentially prohibitive. In addition, there are certain people that choose to read for relaxation and do not necessarily take an interest in television or music. The inability of these persons to combine their enjoyment of leisure reading of a newspaper, magazine, novel or the like with exercise detracts from their implementation of an exercise routine.

The existing solutions to the drawbacks of prior art exercise equipment do not overcome the practical problems discussed above. For example, for those persons desiring to read or study with their time in lieu of exercising, the provision of a television screen or phone jack is of no moment. In addition, the prior art does not provide a workable solution to the difficulties encountered in trying to read during exercise. A platform for resting a book or magazine still does not overcome the difficulty of reading small print and turning pages while exercising. Also, prior art exercise machines do not provide any incentives, milestones, or motivation for users centered on their reading during exercise. Additionally, prior art exercise machines do not provide hardware and software that facilitates reading a user's chosen or preferred reading material during exercise.

Another major drawback is that there exists a universe of countless different books, magazines, newspapers, periodicals, texts, and other printed materials that different users would like to enjoy that simply do not exist in a format compatible with reading during exercise. Moreover, there are new editions of newspapers, periodicals, texts, and other written materials being printed everyday that users want to read but that do not come in a format compatible for reading during exercise, thereby detracting from their willingness to spend time exercising in lieu of reading. The present inventor contemplates a world where every written material would come with an external memory device in a universally accepted format or a format compatible for use with equipment that would present the text of the material in a font and/or format compatible for reading during exercise. Alternatively, these materials would be available for download to an external memory device or directly downloadable to exercise equipment in a manner such that any written material could be accessed and read by a user while exercising in a form and font compatible with reading during exercise.

Accordingly, there exists a long-felt, yet unresolved need for an improved exercise device for facilitating reading during exercise. Moreover, there exists a long-felt, yet unresolved need for exercise equipment providing incentives, milestones, and motivation to exercise for persons inclined to spend their time reading or studying. Additionally, there exists a long-felt, yet unresolved need for exercise equipment providing suitable hardware and software to facilitate the provision of a user's desired media for reading. As additionally, there exists a long-felt yet unresolved need for a library of materials or electronically stored texts in a form that may lend itself to being presented to a user during exercise in a font and format compatible for reading during exercise.

IV. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the drawbacks described above and offers new advantages as well. One object of some embodiments of the present invention is to provide an improved exercise machine equipped with means for facilitating reading by a user of the machine. According to this object of the invention, some embodiments of the invention provide a screen for reading electronically stored media in a font that is large enough to enhance readability of the text during exercise movements.

Another object of the invention is to provide an exercise machine providing incentives, milestones and motivation to exercise to readers. According to this object of the invention, some embodiments of the invention provide a processor that may be configured to control the presentation and pace of text on a screen configured for reading electronically stored media.

Yet another object of some embodiments of the invention is to provide an exercise machine system that includes a processor for receiving, storing, or providing, and then displaying text on a screen for reading by a user. A related object of some embodiments of the invention is to provide an exercise machine equipped with computer architecture adapted to allow a user to read a preferred material. For example, in some embodiments of the invention the system includes an Internet access or wireless feature allowing a user to find and load or receive reading material from a server to be presented on the screen. In other preferred embodiments, the system includes a port or ports for receiving external memory devices, such as a diskette, USB key, SD card, pen drive, CD-Rom, iPod®, or the like, that allows the user to bring his or her preferred reading material. In other preferred embodiments, the system requires a specific customized external memory device to be used that may be purchased for use with the equipment and contain predetermined material (e.g., a book, magazine, newspaper, etc.) or allow for material to be chosen and saved by the user for reading when exercising (e.g., user downloads material from the Internet, a site, or server having a menu of books, newspapers, etc. for download).

Yet another object of some embodiments the invention is to provide an exercise machine equipped with computer architecture that tracks a user's progress or pace and displays reading material at an optimizable pace. An advantageous feature of some embodiments is the ability to customize a workout such that words scroll at a given rate. Preferably, this feature allows the amount of time exercising on the equipment it will take a user to finish reading a given work to be calculated (based on the length of the work and the pace of the words scrolling). Providing a timeframe is intended to incentivize that person to spend that length of time over a given period exercising to finish the work.

Another advantageous feature of some embodiments of the invention is the ability to customize a workout based on the pace of a user of the equipment. Preferably, the system motivates a user to keep a certain pace for a given timeframe by scrolling text at a rate intended to be kept during the workout. The system may do so by any suitable means, for example, letting the user know how many words or pages per mile or minute they have read and letting them know with each subsequent mile (or other measurement) if they are falling behind, keeping pace, or improving the volume of words being read. Alternatively, the system may simply require a selected amount of words or pages to be read before sounding an alarm or the like letting the user know that they have covered the amount of material set for that workout.

Another advantageous feature of some embodiments of the invention is the ability to have the machine require a certain pace be achieved or kept in order to keep words scrolling. Alternatively, according to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the machine may require a pace to be achieved or kept to prevent a screen displaying the reading material from fading to black to incentive the user to keep pace so they can continue to read text. Preferably, the pace is adjustable by the user.

It is yet another object of the invention for some embodiments of the invention to provide a subscription service and system for use with the exercise equipment. The subscription service is used to cover the costs and/or allow for profits to be reaped through the provision of the equipment, access to media, and/or the monitoring, motivational, and incentivizing features of the invention. It is another alternative or complimentary object of the invention for some embodiments of the system to include access to electronic media of printed materials desired to be read by users of the equipment. In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, when a user purchases a newspaper or magazine subscription, buys a text book or novel, or purchases other material, the material may include a portable memory device (e.g., disk, chip, card) containing that text that is compatible and usable with the incentivized exercise equipment of the present invention. In other embodiments of the invention, the system includes a subscription that allows users to access a library of works or otherwise download electronically stored files that may be displayed as text on the screen of the incentivized exercise equipment.

Various of the foregoing and other objects, aspects and features of the invention may be realized by the provision of an incentivized exercise machine comprising: an exercise machine substrate; a visual monitor positioned in an area for viewing by a user of said exercise machine substrate; and a processor configured to provide scrolling text to said visual screen at a predetermined rate.

Various of the foregoing and other objects, aspect and features of the invention may be realized by the provision of an incentivized exercise machine comprising: an exercise machine substrate having at least one manually and repeatably movable part; a monitor configured to monitor the rate of movement of said at least one manually and repeatably movable part; and a processor configured to receive a signal from said monitor relating to said rate of movement and providing scrolling text to a visual screen at a predetermined rate based on the rate of movement of said at least one manually moveable part.

Given the following enabling description of the drawings, the apparatus should become evident to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

V. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.

FIG. 1 depicts a generic side view of an embodiment of an incentivized exercise bike according to the invention.

FIG. 2 depicts a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a control pad for the incentivized exercise bike depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a generic side view of an embodiment of an incentivized exercise treadmill according to the invention.

FIG. 4 depicts a generic side view of an embodiment of an incentivized stair stepper exercise machine according to the invention.

VI. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a presently preferred embodiment of an incentivized exercise machine 10 according to the invention. As depicted, the incentivized exercise machine is incorporated into an exercise bike. As depicted, the incentivized exercise bike includes a standard stationary bike member 20 of the type known in the art. The stationary bike member includes a tachometer 30 in communication with a processor 40. The tachometer 30 is preferably configured to communicate signals to the processor 40 relating to the speed of the rotation of the pedals so that the speed, distance, and/or pace of a user's workout can be calculated, tracked, and/or monitored by the processor 40.

The processor 40 may be any suitable processor for receiving and processing signals and communication commands to be executed by the system. In a presently preferred embodiment, the processor 40 is a computer hard drive having software capable of executing the control functions recited herein. The processor 40 in turn is in communication with a control panel 50. The control panel 50 includes user keys 51 that allow a user to input control commands to the system. In a preferred embodiment, the processor 40 or, as depicted, the control panel 50 includes inputs 52 for receiving exterior architecture such as a mouse, keyboard, etc. (not shown). These inputs 52 allow a user to use the system as a workstation while exercising, wherein the user can perform regular computer workstation activities such as, e.g., type, edit, proofread, email, text, access the Internet, download materials, etc. To this end, the processor 40 or alternatively an accessory hard drive for use with the system preferably includes software that allows users of Microsoft or Macintosh systems to use the processor or accessory hard drive as a work station while exercising.

The system includes a display screen 60. The display screen 60 is positioned in an area for comfortable viewing by the user of the equipment. In a preferred embodiment, the display screen 60 in integral with the bike and may be adjusted to a desired position or angle for viewing by a given user. Any suitable display screen 60 may be used in conjunction with the present invention. Presently preferred are flat screen LCD panels for their clarity in viewing and ease in configuring and positioning for adjustability. While the present invention is described in connection with the preferred embodiments as including a display screen 60 attached to the exercise equipment, the invention should not be deemed to exclude the use of wireless communications to a remote display screen and/or computer mounted on a wall or the like. The provision of a desired screen position and hard ware configuration for use with the present invention is well within the ability of one of ordinary skill in the art armed with the present specification.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the processor 40 is configured to allow for the display of text on the display screen 60. In its most basic form, the processor and display screen operate in the manner of a teleprompter or karaoke machine, wherein large font text is scrolled at a predetermined pace. The large font and scrolling text allows users in the motions and rigors of peddling to read the text without the difficulties associated with trying to read regular-sized printed materials while exercising.

The provision of scrolling text in a font large enough to be read while exercising overcomes a perceived drawback in the prior art that is cited by many as the reason they do not exercise regularly—the inability to read during exercise. According to one advantageous feature of various embodiments of the present invention is the ability of a user to selected reading materials that may be presented on the screen.

Turning back to FIG. 1, the processor 40 is configured for receiving or storing and then displaying text on the screen 60 for reading by a user. As depicted, the processor 40 includes a port 70 or multiple ports for receiving an external memory devices, such as a diskette, USB key, SD card, pen drive, CD-Rom, iPod®, or the like. The provision of a port 70 for accepting an external memory device is to allow a user to bring his or her preferred reading material stored on the external memory. In a presently preferred alternative embodiment, the port 70 is configured to accept a specially sized custom external memory device. By requiring a customized memory device, the system may be set up to require users to purchase a device containing specific predetermined material they wish to read (e.g., a book, magazine, newspaper, etc.).

Alternatively, the system may allow the user Internet access or the like so the user may find and/or purchase desired reading material that is then downloaded to an external memory device or otherwise provided to the system for presentation on the visual screen 60. (e.g., user downloads material from an Internet, a subscription site, or server having a menu of books, newspapers, etc. for purchase or free download). In a presently preferred embodiment of the invention having this advantageous feature, the processor or alternatively, an accessory hard drive, is equipped with computer architecture adapted to allow a user to access the Internet or access another server so the user can find and load or receive reading material to be presented on the screen.

In accordance with another advantageous aspect of various embodiments of the invention is that the system may be adapted to operate as a workstation as described previously herein in combination with the scrolling large font text feature. As will be appreciated, the combination of the workstation feature with the provision of scrolling text in a font large enough to be read while exercising overcomes another perceived drawback in the prior art cited by many as the reason they do not exercise regularly—the inability to do work related activities while exercising.

While the embodiments discussed herein remove some of the cited obstacles faced by many in trying to read or work while exercising, other embodiments of the present invention also provide additional incentives through pacing, milestones, and goal setting to incentivize readers to exercise. Specifically, according to a presently preferred embodiment, the processor 40 takes the signals from the tachometer 30 to compute, track, and/or process a user's workout. This information may then be used to monitor, calculate, or pace a user's progress in reading.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the processor 40 is configured to accept a specific rate or pace for scrolling the text a work. The rate may be preset or alternatively, manually input by a user via the user keys 51 on the control pad 50 as best shown in connection with FIG. 2. Based on the scrolling rate, the processor 40 may calculate the length of time, pedal strokes, miles, or like measure that it will take a user to read the work to be scrolled on the visual screen 60. Providing the number of hours, minutes, miles, or other measure it will take to complete the work is intended to incentivize a user to exercise that length of time in the window they have set for them to complete the reading, e.g., find time to exercise to get something read by a due date, and/or incentivize them to try and beat the clock or win the race, e.g., ride longer and harder so as to complete the work in fewer days or hours on the bike.

To complement this feature, it may be advantageous to configure the system to allow the pace at which the words scroll on the screen to be tied to the pace of a user's pedal strokes. For example, if a user is peddling slowly, the words scroll slowly or not at all. If the user increases speed, the words begin to scroll or increase in speed. Providing the text on the visual screen at a rate tied to a user's effort, the system is intended to incentivize a user to keep a desired pace and work hard. In an alternative embodiment, so not to have persons speed read when peddling fast, the rate at which the words scroll may remain constant and the user's pace is required to keep the screen illuminated. In essence, the user's effort is treated as a generator for power to the screen. If the user's pace begins to slip the screen begins to darken. If the user speeds up, the screen illuminates again. In addition, the system may be configured to allow a user that exceeds a certain pace to store illumination credits so a person peddling hard will have the opportunity to read and coast later in the workout. The provision of a pace-based illumination system is again intended to incentivize a user to keep or exceed a desired pace and be true to their workout regime.

In accordance with another advantageous aspect of various embodiments of the present invention is the provision of user controlled settings and overrides. As will be appreciated, if the system did not allow user's to relax, pause, reverse, turn down, and/or turn off the paced-based scrolling features, many user's are likely to skip workouts or become disenchanted with their exercise program. There are times when one is not up to keeping pace with prior workouts or want to read at a more leisurely pace or enjoy a lighter workout. In an effort to incentivize these persons to continue to work out, the control pad 50 of the system preferably user keys 51 that allow a user to set, control, edit, and/or end the scrolling feature.

While the provision of any user input feature may be used in conjunction with the system and/or its control pad, an exemplary control pad depicted in FIG. 2 includes a “Pace” function 53 that allows a user to enter a miles per hour rate that needs to be achieved in order for the pace-based scrolling features to allow text to scroll. The “Pace” function in this illustrative embodiment includes an up arrow and a down arrow touchpad, wherein pressing the up arrow increases the rate to be set and pressing the down arrow decreases the rate to be met for scrolling text. The illustrative control pad also includes an “Pause” button 54 to hold the scrolling of text when engaged so a user does not lose its place when averted from reading the screen; a “Back” button 55 that allows a user to flip back through screen of text that may have been missed or need to be reread; and a “Coast” feature 56 that allows the user to simply read at a leisurely rate without regards to their effort.

The exemplary pad according to this illustrative embodiment also includes two additional pair of arrows. The first pair of arrows control a “Font” feature 57 that allows a user to increase or decrease the size of the font displayed on the screen. The second set of arrows control a “Rate” feature that allows a user to set the speed at which the text scrolls for reading. These features allow a given machine to be customized for the preferences for size and speed of text for a particular user for a given work. These features are provided to stress the universality of the exercise equipment for anyone interested in reading or working while exercising.

The control keys set forth above are for exemplary purposes and not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The number of input features and controls is virtually limitless and a description of every one is beyond the scope of this specification. Suffice it to say that it is well within the ability of one of ordinary skill in the art armed with the present specification to configure desired controls for use with the incentivized exercise equipment discussed herein to optimize the system for compatibility with its intended users.

According to another aspect of various embodiments of the invention intended to incentivize users to exercise is the provision of a monitoring function. In a presently preferred embodiment, the processor 40 or an accessory hard drive is configured to keep track of a user's exercise program. In operation, a user logs onto the system (or otherwise identifies themselves to the system) and is presented with information personalized for their exercise regime. In an exemplary embodiment, the system keeps track of such things as how much a user has read, the pace of the user in past workouts, and the amount of time the user has exercised. The system is intended to be configured to monitor how much a person has read to provide milestones and goals to beat in the amount of time, speed, or frequency of workouts to incentivize the user to keep up and increase their exercise regime.

This monitoring feature of the invention lends itself to a web based application, wherein a user log into a web site in communication with the machine that tracks the progress of a user's workout and reading. The information may be stored in a remote server and accessed from any machine plugged into the network. Thus, as will be appreciated, a user's progress and accomplishments can be monitored and archived whether the user uses an incentivized exercise bike one day, a treadmill the next day, and yet another machine, such as a stair stepper another day.

A web based application also lends itself well to a subscription service. Not only does a subscription service allow the system to track users and accounts, the service would allow additional features such as access to an archive or library of works that are compatible or preprogrammed to be compatible with the systems architecture so the text may scrolled to the user on the visual screen in a manner consistent with the present invention.

While the present invention thus far has been described in connection with a stationary exercise bike, one of ordinary skill in the art armed with the present specification will readily appreciate that the systems and embodiments described herein lend themselves to use with almost any piece of exercise equipment. For example, as depicted in FIG. 3, the system may be used in connection with a prior art treadmill. In a preferred embodiment, the treadmill 20A includes a tachometer 30 monitoring the rotation of the tread in communication with a processor 40. The processor in turn is in communication with the control pad 50 and visual screen 60, or alternatively, an accessory hard drive having software adapted to perform the control features previously discussed herein. In operation, the system may be configured to include the features discussed in connection with the incentivized exercise bike of FIG. 1.

Likewise, as shown in FIG. 4, the system may be configured for use with a stair stepper. As shown, the stair stepper 20B includes a gauge 30A that monitors the speed of the pistons associated with the steps. The gauge 30A communicates this information to the processor 40 for use in determining scroll rate and pace as previously described herein. The processor 40 is in communication with the control pad 50 and visual screen 60, or alternatively, an accessory hard drive having software adapted to perform the control features previously discussed herein. In operation, this system may also be configured to include the features discussed in connection with the incentivized exercise bike of FIG. 1.

The above embodiments are for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention or the adaptation of the features described herein to particular pieces of exercise equipment. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the above-described preferred embodiments can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein. 

1. An incentivized exercise machine comprising: an exercise machine substrate having at least one manually and repeatably movable part; a monitor configured to monitor the rate of movement of said at least one manually and repeatably movable part; and a processor configured to receive a signal from said monitor relating to said rate of movement and providing scrolling text to a visual screen at a predetermined rate based on the rate of movement of said at least one manually moveable part.
 2. The incentivized exercise machine of claim 1, wherein said processor includes electronically stored literary works for scrolling on said visual screen.
 3. The incentivized exercise machine of claim 1, wherein said processor includes an input for receiving a memory storage device, said storage device providing a textual work to be scrolled on said screen.
 4. The incentivized exercise machine of claim 1, further comprising a control pad including a control key for actuation by a user to control said scrolling text's speed.
 5. The incentivized exercise machine of claim 4, further comprising a control key for actuation by a user to pause said scrolling text.
 6. The incentivized exercise machine of claim 5, further comprising a control key for actuation by a user to allow a user to repeat previously scrolled text.
 7. The incentivized exercise machine of claim 6, further comprising a control key for actuation by a user to allow a user to set a minimum rate of movement of said at least one manually and repeatably movable part necessary to maintain in order to have said processor continue to scroll text on said visual screen.
 8. The incentivized exercise machine of claim 1, wherein said exercise machine substrate is a stationary bike and said manually and repeatably movable body is a pedal crank case; and wherein said monitor is a speedometer or tachometer.
 9. The incentivized exercise machine of claim 1, wherein said exercise machine substrate is a treadmill and said manually and repeatably movable body is a roller; and wherein said monitor is a speedometer or tachometer.
 10. The incentivized exercise machine of claim 1, wherein said exercise machine substrate is a stair stepper and said manually and repeatably movable body is a piston or arm associated with at least one of a pair of steps of said stair stepper; and wherein said monitor is a speedometer.
 11. An incentivized exercise machine comprising: an exercise machine substrate; a visual monitor positioned in an area for viewing by a user of said exercise machine substrate; and a processor configured to provide scrolling text to said visual screen at a predetermined rate.
 12. The incentivized exercise machine of claim 11, wherein said processor provides scrolling text only when a user is performing the exercise machine's intended movements.
 13. The incentivized exercise machine of claim 11, wherein said processor is configured to receive an external memory device having electronically stored literary works and displaying said literary works as said scrolling text.
 14. The incentivized exercise machine of claim 11, wherein said processor is configured for access to a server containing electronically stored literary works that a user may select for displaying as said scrolling text.
 15. The incentivized exercise machine of claim 11, further comprising a control pad configured to allow a user to modify said scrolling text's font size and rate of presentation.
 16. The incentivized exercise machine of claim 15, wherein said control pad is configured to be operable as a computer work station.
 17. The incentivized exercise machine of claim 16, further including user files containing information related to a user's prior uses of incentivized exercise equipment to provide information related to how much reading and exercising a user has performed.
 18. The incentivized exercise machine of claim 11, wherein said exercise machine substrate is a stationary bike.
 19. The incentivized exercise machine of claim 11, wherein said exercise machine substrate is a treadmill.
 20. The incentivized exercise machine of claim 11, wherein said exercise machine substrate is a stair stepper. 